Twins at Yankees
Miguel Andujar has flipped the switch and the New York Yankees have followed suit, with the former collecting five multi-hit performances in his last six games to help the latter pick up steam in the standings. The Yankees look to continue their strong play on Monday when they open a four-game series versus the visiting Minnesota Twins in the first matchup since their wild-card meeting last fall.
Andujar, who collected four hits in Sunday's 5-1 triumph over Toronto, has answered a 3-for-28 stretch by going 13-for-25 with 10 extra-base hits (seven doubles, a triple and two homers) in his last six outings. "To me, it's about getting an opportunity and doing your job. I'm getting a great opportunity," the 23-year-old Dominican said through an interpreter. While the Yankees (11-9) won three of four versus the Blue Jays and five of seven overall, the Twins (8-8) opened their seven-game road trip by yielding 26 runs in a three-game sweep by Tampa Bay. Brian Dozier set a franchise record by hitting safely in a season-opening 16 straight games and is riding a 23-game hitting streak dating back to 2017 heading into Monday's tilt versus Masahiro Tanaka, against whom he is 5-for-14 in his career.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (1-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (2-2, 6.45)
Odorizzi served up three homers and four runs total in five innings on Tuesday to suffer his first loss of the season in a 6-1 setback against Cleveland. Giancarlo Stanton is 1-for-7 with four strikeouts versus the 28-year-old, who owns a 5-7 mark with a 4.31 ERA in his career versus New York - with a 2-3 record and 5.75 ERA at Yankee Stadium. "You can't take a pitch off up there," Odorizzi told reporters. "The game can switch and transition so quickly. ... No one is ever out of a game in Yankee Stadium. I've definitely seen the good and the bad up there."
Tanaka was blitzed for 13 runs on 15 hits with three homers in five-inning stints against Boston and Miami, splitting the decisions. After stumbling in those outings, the 29-year-old Japanese star hopes to regain his footing versus a Twins team against which he owns a 4-0 career mark with a 2.48 ERA. Eduardo Escobar has flustered Tanaka to the tune of going 6-for-13, but the right-hander has subdued Joe Mauer (1-for-10) and Max Kepler (0-for-6).
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano is 5-for-34 with 16 strikeouts in his last eight contests.
2. New York SS Didi Gregorius, who belted a solo homer on Sunday, is 8-for-21 with seven RBIs and six runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.
3. Twins LHP Taylor Rodgers has struggled in four of his last five appearances, permitting six runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.